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2016 free Celebrate Brooklyn shows in Prospect Park (Digable Planets, Violent Femmes, Alvvays, Dr. Dog, more)

Prospect Park
Prospect Park in 2015 (more by David Andrako)

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is one of New York City’s longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979 as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! was an early anchor in the park’s revitalization and has become one of the city’s foremost summer cultural attractions. Over its history, the Festival has presented over 2,000 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough’s diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! performances are free! The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer. Friends of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! membership benefits include express entry, reserved seating, pre-concert receptions and more.

You already knew that the free BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival concerts at the Prospect Park Bandshell (located at 62 West Dr, Brooklyn, NY, between 9th and 15th Street in Park Slope) would begin on June 8 with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and now the full schedule is here. Here are some highlights:

Saturday, June 18 has a double bill of indie legends with the Violent Femmes and Throwing Muses/50 Foot Wave member/solo artist Kristin Hersh.

June 23 has a triple bill of newer indie bands: Alvvays, Ducktails and Big Thief.

On July 7, Brooklyn brass band Red Baraat will play a set with guests, including Das Racist’s Heems.

BRIC teams up with LAMC (Latin Alternative Music Conference) on July 9 for a show with the very solid alt-country band Hurray for the Riff Raff, plus headliner Carla Morrison and opener Buscabulla.

July 16 has an evening of folk/indie-folk from The Wood Brothers, Aoife O’Donovan and Hiss Golden Messenger.

On July 22 23, it’s Femi Kuti (son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti) and Taureg guitar great Bombino.

UPDATE: The Femi Kuti/Bombino show and Jon Batiste show (originally announced for 7/23) have switched dates.

As revealed earlier today, reunited jazz rap greats Digable Planets will bring their reunion tour with Camp Lo to the venue on Saturday, July 30.

In honor of David Bowie, his Labyrinth film will screen on August 10 and Blackstar contributor Donny McCaslin will open the night with his jazz group.

Dr. Dog will hit the venue on Friday, August 12.

Recent soul breakout Andra Day plays the next night (8/13) with support from Son Little. Speaking of, Andra — who just opened for Toni Braxton in NYC two days ago — made a video for “Rise Up” directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Check it out:

Here’s the full 2016 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival schedule:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 8:00 P.M.
Opening Night Concert
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
FREE

SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 4:00 P.M.
Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert
DAN ZANES’ LEAD BELLY PROJECT | TADA! YOUTH THEATER
FREE

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 7:30 P.M.
BAABA MAAL | LAKOU MIZIK
FREE

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 7:30 P.M.
Bud Light Music Series
VIOLENT FEMMES | KRISTIN HERSH
FREE

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7:00 P.M.
Presented in Association with The Village Voice
ALVVAYS | DUCKTAILS | BIG THIEF
FREE

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 7:30 P.M.
¡CUBANISMO! | RICARDO LEMVO & MAKINA LOCA
FREE

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 8:00 P.M.
PHILADANCO
FREE

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 7:30 P.M.
RED BARAAT’S BROOKLYN MELA, co-curated by SUNNY JAIN | with DJ REKHA | HEEMS | BHI BHIMAN & MORE
FREE

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 7:00 P.M.
American Express Series
JOSH RITTER | MARTHA REDBONE | BIRDS OF CHICAGO
FREE

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 7:00 P.M.
Bud Light Music Series
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival & LAMC Present
CARLA MORRISON | HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF | BUSCABULLA
FREE

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 8:00 P.M.
Music & Movies
TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE | JESSICA FICHOT
FREE

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 7:30 P.M.
RACHID TAHA | KRAR COLLECTIVE
FREE

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 7:00 P.M.
THE WOOD BROTHERS | AOIFE O’DONOVAN | HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER
FREE

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 7:30 P.M.
CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS: BLACK GIRL: LINGUISTIC PLAY | BRANDEE YOUNGER
FREE

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 7:30 P.M.
American Express Series
JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN & FRIENDS
FREE

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 7:30 P.M.
FEMI KUTI | BOMBINO
FREE

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 7:30 P.M.
American Express Series
GREGORY PORTER | MARCUS STRICKLAND & TWI-LIFE
FREE

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 7:30 P.M.
ANGELIQUE KIDJO’S CELIA CRUZ TRIBUTE WITH PEDRITO MARTINEZ
FREE

SATURDAY, JULY 30, 7:30 P.M.
DIGABLE PLANETS | CAMP LO
FREE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 7:30 P.M.
Music & Movies
RUN LOLA RUN WITH LIVE SCORE BY THE BAYS (U.S. Premiere) | 2001
FREE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 7:30 P.M.
MORGAN HERITAGE | BRITISH DEPENDENCY
FREE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 7:30 P.M.
THE HUBBLE CANTATA (World Premiere) | TIGUE
FREE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 7:30 P.M.
Music & Movies
LABYRINTH | DONNY McCASLIN GROUP
FREE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 7:30 P.M.
Bud Light Music Series
DR. DOG
FREE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 7:30 P.M.
Bud Light Music Series
ANDRA DAY | SON LITTLE
FREE

This summer’s benefit concerts (the ones you have to pay for) include two nights with Tame Impala (June 14 & 15), Ray LaMontagne (June 22), supergroup Case/Lang/Veirs (July 26), Beirut (August 2) and The Lumineers (August 3) and Herbie Hancock (August 11).